AHDB Pig Market Weekly

AHDB UK Market Survey - 11 May 2012

On the back of high finished cattle returns in 2011, the rearing calf market has remained firm since the turn of the year.

Pig market trends

Prices

Finished pig prices continued their seasonal
upward trend in week ended 5 May, with the
DAPP EU Spec increasing by over a penny to
average 148.21p per kg. This comes despite
rainy conditions curtailing any barbecue demand.
Supplies were also plentiful, with estimated
throughputs comfortably above 2011 levels, and
carcase weights also heavier than a year ago,
although slightly down on the previous week at
an average of 78.77kg.

Once again there was little movement in the
weaner market, with the average price in week
ending 12 May falling by 14 pence to £45.24.
This is almost identical to the level a year ago
when prices were rising as high feed costs began
to ease back. This year, high feed costs are again
limiting the willingness of finishers to take
increased numbers of weaners.

With sterling continuing to strengthen against the
euro, cull sow prices remain under pressure to
prevent higher prices on export markets. In
week ended 5 May, the average price was
121.01p per kg dw, down another third of a
penny on the week but still nearly 15 pence
higher than a year earlier.

Retail price spreads

The average farmgate pig price in April was
146.2p per kg, three per cent higher than in the
month previous. Over the month, the average
retail price increased by less than one per cent.
As a result, the gap between producer and retail
prices decreased slightly to 61 per cent. This
means that producers received an average of 39
per cent of the retail price which is marginally
lower than at the same point last year.

Average retail bacon prices in April were nearly
five per cent lower than in March. This means
that the gap between producer and retail prices
for bacon decreased to 65 per cent, which is
equivalent to producers receiving 35 per cent of
the retail price, significantly higher than in April
2011, when the figure was just over 31 per cent.

Average prices for most pork cuts were virtually
unchanged between March and April. The
largest increase was for minced pork but even
this was only up by just over one per cent. Pork
fillet was the only cut which was noticeably
cheaper, with the average price three per cent
lower than in March. Compared with prices in
April 2011 loin chops were less expensive, with
prices have fallen by six per cent. Prices for other
cuts were higher than a year earlier with the
largest rises for minced pork, boneless leg and
traditional pork sausages.